EU Exit

Updated 11 April 2019

At a European Union (EU) Summit in Brussels on 10 April 2019, EU leaders granted the UK a six month extension to Brexit (leaving the EU). The new deadline is now 31 October 2019. This means the UK will now not leave the EU without a deal on Friday 12 April 2019.

The UK must now hold European elections on 23 May 2019, or leave on 1 June 2019 without a deal.

After the United Kingdom European Union Membership Referendum in June 2016, the UK Government triggered Article 50, which began the process of the UK leaving the EU. Under the terms of Article 50 as amended, we are due to leave the EU on 31 October 2019. However, negotiations between the UK Government and the EU are on-going over a ‘transition period’, until 31 December 2020, which would allow for a negotiation of the future relationship between the UK and the EU after Brexit. Should these negotiations fail, with no extension or cancellation of Article 50, then the UK will leave the EU without a deal, or a transition period.

Preparing for Leaving the European Union

Leaving the EU will have implications for Eden, its partners and the District as a whole.

EU Citizens living in the UK

The Council wants to make sure that EU citizens living and working in Eden know about their rights. If you’re an EU citizen living in the UK, you and your family will be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. If your application is successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status.

Applications can be made now, although the scheme won't be fully open until the date that UK leaves the EU. The Government has announced that there will be no application fee after the UK departs the EU. However, applications received before this date will be charged a fee, though this will be refunded. EU citizens settled in the UK will have until June 2021 to apply for settled status.

In the event of a no deal, the EU Settlement Scheme will still be rolled out as planned. However, the deadline for applications will be the 31 December 2020, which is six months earlier than if there were a Brexit deal agreed with the EU.

In the event of no deal, anyone visiting the UK from the EU for less than three months after Brexit would not need to apply for a visa. Anyone arriving from the EU that wanted to stay longer than three months would need to apply for a visa. If successful, the visa would last for up to three years.

Impact on Local Businesses

We will work with various Chambers of Trade to make sure local businesses are prepared for the impact of leaving the EU. However, there are still many uncertainties about what the business and trade arrangements will be after Brexit and the implications for Eden District.

Government departments have information about the potential impact on businesses, what support is out there and proposals for how Brexit should be approached from a business perspective.